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Western Yellowjacket

Vespula pensylvanica

Description:

Vespula pensylvanica shares its basic yellow and black pattern with other species of wasp in genus Vespula and its sister genus Dolichovespula which are collectively known in North America by the common name "yellowjacket." V. pensylvanica, however, is the only member of its species group that has a complete yellow eye ring around each compound eye. This eye ring is also visible in queen wasps of this species.

Habitat:

Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline wild fennel plant. Point Richmond, CA

Notes:

I spotted this Western Yellowjacket while I was walking in the Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline.

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5 Comments

misako
misako 12 years ago

Thank you FrancisQuintana--I managed to avoid a sting!

misako
misako 12 years ago

Thank you baamenabar!

Agustín Amenabar L
Agustín Amenabar L 12 years ago

Great spotting and great ID, I would have identified as a Vespula vulgaris, (for the pattern on the back), but as you write the yellow eye ring is very characteristic.

misako
misako 12 years ago

Thanks Akash--it looks regal to me.

AkashSatpathy
AkashSatpathy 12 years ago

nice patterns :)

misako
Spotted by
misako

Richmond, California, USA

Spotted on Sep 26, 2011
Submitted on Jan 9, 2012

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